Physician&#39;s mask.



H. A. HECHT.

PHYSCIANS MASK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 191s.

Paented Apr. 3, 1917.

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HERBERT A. HECI-IT, 0F PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

PHYSICIANS MASK.

Application led February 21, 1916.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT A. I'Inci-r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at 523 Market street, Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Physicians Masks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to masks for use by physicians, dentists, nurses, barbers and the like, who are exposed to deleterious fumes, or are compelled to remain in an atmosphere of infection of any description. This invention belongs to that class of protective nose and mouth coverings wherein means are provided for passing the air to be breathed by the wearer through a filtering container charged with disinfectant, and which are provided with other devices for allowing the air exhaled to escape at another point or points.

The object of this invention is the production of a mask of the character stated, wherein the parts have special construction and arrangement with respect to each other, and include members constructed and arranged to permit the wearer to open the interior of the mask to the open air for breathing purposes, without removing the mask from the face after it has been once suitably adjusted.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents the side face of a man wearing a maskI constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a front view of this invention,'and Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the exhalation or discharge horns, parts being shown sectionally on the indirect broken line -fc of Fig. 2. In Figs. 2 and 3 the scale of drawing has been increased to better set out the construction and arrangement of the parts shown.

Throughout the description and drawings the same letter is used to refer to the same art.

p Considering the drawings, the middle rib or vertical member A, has attached to its upper end a curved spring a which carries a forehead pad B, shown bearing uagainst the forehead of the wearer.

Near the top of the vertical supporting member A, there is secured a nose grip b, by which it is intended that this invention may be removably secured in place upon the face of the wearer. In practice, the nose Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 191'?.

Serial No. 79,524.

grip b may be provided with lenses, one lens C being illustrated in Fig. l, assuming that the user wears glasses.

The mask D has a felt border or cushion d which also partly covers the discharge horns in the rear, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted in Figs. l and 3 that the felt border or cushion CZ is relatively thick, and in practice it is made comparatively soft and yielding. In Fig. l it will be observed that a portion of the border d lies under the mask D and against the nose, constituting a nose pad, while another portion lies between the container E and the chin of the wearer, thus making a chin padand preventing the metal of the container from touching the chin.

At the lower end of the mask there is a Container E usually made of metal gauze, and filled with absorbent cotton c charged with a disinfectant. The container, as ordinarily constructed has a threaded mouth which engages a correspondingly threaded annular opening or terminal F of the mask.

At the sides, the mask has the casings G and I-I leading rearwardly. Those casings communicate with and cover openings in the front portion of the mask, such as the opening g shown in Fig. 1. The casing H is connected by a spring hinge 72, with the upwardly curved horn J, and the horn J has at its upper end a nipple j that may be connected with a tube K leading to a distance away from the head of the wearer. A second spring hinge L connects the casing G with a second horn M. At the top the horn M has a nipple N similar to the nipple j, and in the nipple N is an outwardly opening valve m. The nipple y' has a valve of the same structure and arrangement but not shown.

Each casing has an opening such as the opening O shown in Fig. 3, placing the casing in communication with the horn M.

Also, each casing has at its mouth a lip such as the lip P shown in Fig. 3, and the lip engages with a spring Q, notches R and r being formed in the spring for that purpose. When the lip P of the horn M engages the notch R, the horn M has its mouth held closely over the opening O, and no outside air may enter the casing at that point.

In the operation of this invention, the mask D s placed over the mouth and nose of the wearer, and the nose grip engages his nose, the forehead pad B at the same time and the pressure of the forehead pad acting upon the vertical member A as a lever, lightly presses the lower portion of the felt d against the chin of the wearer, making of that piece of the felt behind the disinfectant container a chin pad, and serving'to keep the mask in contact throughout its border with the face. rIhe user draws the air in through the container E andthe inlet valves f, and the exhaled air passes out through the horns and the valves therein opening outwardly. Let it be assumed that the physician wishes to cease using the disinfectant container as an entrance for the air he breathes, for a few moments. He may have occasion to step into another room or into another part of the same room. He swings the horn M forwardly vuntil the lip P engages the notch r, andV does the same with horn J. It will be understood that, as best shown in Fig. 3, while the felt border or cushion CZ is arranged to extend along the side of the horn to prevent the horn from touching the face, the felt is not attached to the horn, and offers no obstacle to opening the horn as explained. Now, the outside air may kenter and leave the mask, as the mouths of the horns are separated from the openings in the casings. Thus the wearer may freely breathe the outer air and need not remove his mask.

Of course, before returning to the infected atmosphere, he turns the horns backward into their closed positions.

Having now described this invention, and explainedthe mode of its operation, what I claim is l. Ina respirator mask, the combination with a central `vertical support, of a nosegrip secured to the said support whereby the samermay be attached to the nose ofthe wearer, a forehead pad connected with the saidvertical support above the nose-grip, a mask attachedV to the said support, a, disinfectant container attached to the said mask and having a valve opening toward the interior of the mask, and means communicating with the interior of the mask and provided with an outwardly-opening valve for discharging from the maskthe exhalations of the wearer.

2. In a respiratormask, the co-mbination with a mask constructed to cover the nose and Vmouth of the wearer, of a nose-grip arranged above the mask and connected there- Ywith, a disinfectant container attached to the said mask and having a valve opening towardithe interior of the mask, and means communicating with the interior of the mask and extending laterally and upwardly from Copies of this patent may be obtained for the mask and provided at its extremity with an outwardly-opening valve for discharging from the mask the exhalations of the wearer.

3. In a respirator mask, the combination 'with a mask constructed to cover the nose Ya discharge opening for the exhaled gases, a

horn provided with an outwardly-opening valve at its outer end, and means for connecting the mouth of the said horn with the said discharge opening of the mask including a hinge connected with the mouth of the horn and whereon the horn may be moved into an open position and into a closed position thereby, when in its said open position, placing the said discharge opening of the mask in direct communication with the external air, and, in its said closed position directing the exhalations through the said horn.

5. In a respirator mask, the combination with a mask, of a disinfectant container connected with the mask and having a valve opening into the mask, the said mask having a discharge opening for exhaled gases located in the side portion of the mask, an external casing arranged over the said discharge opening of the mask and extending rearwardly, the said casing having a discharge opening, a horn provided with au outwardly-opening valve at its outer end, means for connecting the said discharge opening of the casing with the mouth of the horn including a hinge connected with the mouth of the horn whereon the horn may be moved into an open position and into a closed position thereby, when in its said closed position directing the exhalations through the said horn, and, in its said open position, placing the said discharge opening of the casing in direct communication with the external air.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT A. HECIIT. Witnesses:

GEORGE AMREIN, HARRY IIECHT.

fiveV cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

